Vibration rotation bands of NO in sunspots

The equivalent widths of R ₁(26.5) lines, belonging to the 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 vibration-rotation bands of NO near 5.3 m, have been computed for two different sunspot models at four positions on the disc. The computed equivalent widths in both models suggest a possible presence of these NO bands in the sunspot spectrum.     

Isotopic lines of SiO in sunspots

As the isotopic shift for the vibration rotation band is generally much larger than the isotopic shift for the corresponding electronic transitions and thus facilitating separation of isotopic lines, the vibration rotation bands of SiO may find use in the determination of isotopic abundance ratio Si²⁸ Si²⁹ Si³⁰. To help identify the isotopic lines of SiO the wavenumbers for Si²⁹O¹⁶ and Si³⁰O¹⁶ have been calculated with an uncertainty of ±0.05 cm^–1.Taking note of the fact that SiO shows strong vibration rotation bands in the spectra of some cool stars the equivalent width calculations for P(40) and R(40) lines of the 1-0 and 2-1 vibration rotation bands of Si²⁹O¹⁶ and Si³⁰O¹⁶ have been made at the centre of the disc for the model ZSM-74 using two values of isotopic abundance ratio and three values of dissociation energy.The search for the isotopic lines of SiO near 7 to 8m is recommended in low noise centre to limb sunspot spectrum scans with a view to help improve the isotopic ratio Si²⁸ Si²⁹ Si³⁰ and oscillator strengths for the vibration-rotation transitions.     

A photometric and spectroscopic comparison of the cataclysmic variables on the 2 sides of the period gap and at a specific orbital period

New and previously existing photometric colors and spectroscopic H and He line strengths are used to compare CV disk systems below the period gap (P=80–130 min) with those directly above (P=190–240 min). Significant differences are found in the mean U-B, V-J colors and in the Hß equivalent widths on the 2 sides of the gap. A detailed comparison from UV-IR of 3 high inclination novalike systems with periods near 3.3 hr (PG1012-029, PG1030+590 and V1315 Aq1) shows similar continuum distributions (and implied mass accretion rates) but large differences in high excitation lines (HeII1640, 4686; CIV1550).Paper presented at the IAU Colloquium No. 93 on Cataclysmic Variables, Recent Multi-Frequency Observations and Theoretical Developments, held at Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, F.R.G., 16–19 June, 1986.     

A study of the green TiO band in the sunspot spectrum

The equivalent widths of the TiO lines in the α system have been measured on a high dispersion (11 mm/Å) spectrogram of large sunspot. The lines were so weak that the measurement was made by methods giving maximum and minimum equivalent widths, depending on the adopted continuum. The rotational temperature obtained in this way was about 3000 °K. The result is unaffected by stray light because there are no TiO lines in the undisturbed spectrum. The calculation of equivalent widths using several sunspot models (all of which can satisfy the observed data) shows that the logarithmic optical depth at the effective layer of molecular line formation is about -1.6.     

On the Rotational Temperature of AlH in Sunspots

A search has been carried out for the presence of rotational lines of two bands of the (0, 0) and (1, 1) A ¹Π?–?X ¹Σ⁺ system of the AlH molecule in the high resolution Fourier Transform Spectra of sunspots observed at the National Solar Observatory at Kitt Peak. Though the presence of the AlH molecule in sunspots was confirmed by Wallace, Hinkle, and Livingston (An Atlas of Sunspot Umbral Spectra in the Visible from 15?000 to 25?000 cm^?1 (3920 to 6664 Å), Tech. Rep. 00-001, National Solar Observatory, Tucson, AZ, 2000), there is no report on the rotational temperature in the literature by identifying AlH molecular lines. The results obtained in this new search using a suitable identification technique are compared with the results reported by Wallace, Hinkle, and Livingston (2000). In view of the fact that the rotational temperatures of the molecules could be used to test photospheric and sunspot models, the effective rotational temperature for the (0, 0) band of the A?–?X system of AlH molecule is estimated by measuring the equivalent widths of well resolved spectral lines and its value justifies the existence of the AlH molecule in sunspots.     

Equivalent width of molecular lines in stars

We have calculated the expected equivalent widths of the individual rotational lines of the Lyman band of H₂ and (A-X) band of CO and SiO for Main Sequence stars. The results indicate that the lines of H₂ should be observable in absorption up toT _e9000 K. The lines of CO are found to be much weaker than those of H₂ lines. A discussion of these results is presented.     

(A-X) system of SiO in sunspots

The calculated equivalent widths of some lines of SiO in the umbral spectrum suggest that strong lines of Si²⁸O¹⁶, Si²⁹O¹⁶ and Si³⁰O¹⁶ may be present in the sunspot ultraviolet spectrum. We also find that between 37 000 and 47 000 cm^–1 the quasi-continuous absorption of SiO dominates all other absorptions.     

On the presence of SH in the sunspot spectrum

The expected equivalent widths of individual rotational lines of the most intense Q ₂ branch of the 0-0 band of the A ²-X²_i; system of S³²H and S³⁴H have been calculated in the umbral spectrum for five disk positions using Zwaan's (1974) sunspot model. Percentage abundance of S³⁴ in the terrestrial case has been considered valid in our calculations.Strong lines of S³²H and S³⁴H of the A-X band system should be detectable in the sunspot spectrum. The molecule SH may play a possible role as a major opacity source in the ultraviolet spectrum of sunspots along with the molecule OH in the upper layers (up to _0.5m = 1.0) wherefrom most of the continuum arises. Study of this molecule in the umbral spectrum may also provide the solar isotopic abundance ratio N(S³²)/N(S³⁴).     

The large-scale build-up of solar magnetic cycles

The purpose of the present article is to analyze the solar cycles from the point of view of the large-scale surface magnetic field (LSMF) polarity distributions. Using synoptic charts of the LSMF for the 1870–1991 time interval at maxima and minima and the spherical harmonic analysis of the polarity distributions, a connection between magnetic cycles has been found. The weight of the large-scale sectoral mode (m = 1) in the common LSMF polarity distribution at minima of the sunspot cycle is the source of sunspot activity at maxima after 16–18 years. The connections found suggest that surface LSMFs have a dual nature - the main source below the convective zone and a secondary source (sunspot production). The sunspot production has no visible influence on the LSMF cycles.     

The ultraviolet absorption band at 2175 Å: Correlations with other interstellar features

The hump in the ultraviolet part of the interstellar extinction curve is interpreted as a broad diffuse absorption band. Its equivalent width is estimated for 36 stars by means of OAO-2 data. The equivalent widths are correlated with the following parameters: colour excessE(B-V), colour excessE(B – V), depth of the band m _max, equivalent widths of the diffuse bands at 5780 and 6284 Å, and the column density of neutral hydrogenN _HI. The physical parameters half-width and oscillator strength of the band at 2175 Å are estimated.     

Imaging Spectropolarimetry of Ti I 2231 nm in a Sunspot

Spectro-polarimetric observations at 2231 nm were made of NOAA 10008 near the west solar limb on 29 June 2002 using the National Solar Observatory McMath–Pierce Telescope at Kitt Peak and the California State University Northridge – National Solar Observatory infrared camera. Scans of spectra in both Stokes I and Stokes V were collected; the intensity spectra were processed to remove strong telluric absorption lines, and the Stokes V umbral spectra were corrected for instrumental polarization. The sunspot temperature is computed using the continuum contrast and umbral temperatures down to about 3700 K are observed. A strong Tii line at 2231.0 nm is used to probe the magnetic and velocity fields in the spot umbra and penumbra. Measurements of the Tii equivalent width versus plasma temperature in the sunspot agree with model predictions. Zeeman splitting measurements of the Stokes I and Stokes V profiles show magnetic fields up to 3300 G in the umbra, and a dependence of the magnetic field on the plasma temperature similar to that which was seen using Fei 1565 nm observations of the same spot two days earlier. The umbral Doppler velocity measurements are averaged in 16 azimuthal bins, and no radial flows are revealed to a limit of ±200 m s^–1. A Stokes V magnetogram shows a reversal of the line-of-sight magnetic component between the limb and disk center sides of the penumbra. Because the Tii line is weak in the penumbra, individual spectra are averaged in azimuthal bins over the entire penumbral radial extent. The averaged Stokes V spectra show a magnetic reversal as a function of sunspot azimuthal angle. The mean penumbral magnetic field as measured with the Stokes V Zeeman component splitting is 1400 G. Several weak spectral lines are observed in the sunspot and the variation of the equivalent width versus temperature for four lines is examined. If these lines are from molecules, it is possible that lines at 2230.67, 2230.77, and 2231.70 nm originate from OH, while the line at 2232.21 nm may originate from CN.     

OSO-8 observations of CaII H and K,MgII h and k,Lα and Lβ above a sunspot

Observations with the French (L.P.S.P.) experiment on board OSO-8 of a sunspot and nearby plage region are described. The behaviour of the emission cores of the Ca II H and K and Mg II h and k resonance lines is very similar and the correspondence in intensity between the four lines persists in all observed features. In contrast, the Lyman lines show little correlation with the other lines. Their emission regions appear broader in the spectroheliograms than the underlying sunspot structure and must not necessarily possess a counterpart in lower layers. From the central intensity of L above the umbra an electron density of 4.3 × 10¹⁰ cm^-3 n _e ^* 2.3 × 10¹¹ cm^-3 at 20 000 K is estimated.Mitteilungen aus dem Kiepenheuer-Institut Nr. 186.Stockholm Observatorium, S-13300 Saltsjöbaden, Sweden.Laboratoire de Physique Stellaire et Planétaire, CNRS, P.O. Box 10, F-91370 Verrières-le-Buisson, France.     

Sio observations of mass-losing AGB stars

We have observed the first overtone rotation-vibration absorption bands of SiO near = 4µm for a sample of 23 oxygen-rich Mira and Semiregular variables using the ESO NTT and IRSPEC. We discuss the strength of the SiO absorption in terms of the near infrared, IRAS and pulsational properties of the stars. Especially among the Miras there are big differences in the strength of the SiO bands between individual objects, which are probably due to pulsational variability.This work is supported by the Austrian Science Fund Project P9638-AST.     

Predictions of the maximum amplitude for solar cycle 23 and its subsequent behavior using nonlinear methods

Two nonlinear methods are employed for the prediction of the maximum amplitude for solar cycle 23 and its declining behavior. First, a new heuristic method based on the second derivative of the (conveniently smoothed) sunspot data is proposed. The curvature of the smoothed sunspot data at cycle minimum appears to correlate (R 0.92) with the cycle's later-occurring maximum amplitude. Secondly, in order to predict the near-maximum and declining activity of solar cycle 23, a neural network analysis of the annual mean sunspot time series is also performed. The results of the present study are then compared with some other recent predictions.     

Identification of CrH and CrD Molecular Lines in the Sunspot Umbral Spectrum

High-resolution Fourier transform spectrometer sunspot umbral spectra obtained at the National Solar Observatory/Kitt Peak were used to identify molecular rotational lines arising from the infrared band systems of CrH and CrD molecules. Measurement of the equivalent width used the Gaussian-profile approximation method, which is suitable especially for faint lines. Equivalent widths are measured for an adequate number of best lines of the A – X (0,0) band of CrH and the A – X (0,0;1,0) bands of CrD and, thereby, the effective rotational temperatures are estimated.     

Some regularities in the variation of the Balmer line profiles in the P Cyg spectrum

In the Coudé focus of the 2 m RCC telescope at the National Astronomical Observatory of the Bulgarian Academy of Science 47 spectrograms covering the range from 3500 to 4900 Å (about 1400 Å) with a reciprocal dispersion of 9 Å mm^–1 and a spectral resolution of 0.18 Å were obtained. The photometric and position behaviour of Balmer lines were investigated over a long time-scale, i.e. March 1981 to August 1982.The hydrogen line profiles were rectified in the way discribed by de Groot (1969). It is found that the absorption consists of three and sometimes four components. Their position behaviour may be expalined by the existence of two kinds of shells: pulsating and steadily expanding, and it is quite possible that shells of the first type may become shells of the second type in the outer parts of the P Cyg envelope.The total emission and absorption equivalent widths of the H11, H9, and H lines change with conspicuous minima and maxima. The amplitude of these variations increases with decrease in the upper quantum number. For example,W _tot ^abs change by about 38% for H and 22% for H9.Our data suggest a periodic change in the radial velocities, intensity of each separate absorption component, total equivalent widths and profiles.     

The rotational temperatures of Silicon hydride isotopomer lines in sunspot umbrae

The published sunspot spectrum obtained with National Solar Observatory/Kitt Peak laboratory’s high signal to noise ratio telescope and high resolution Fourier Transform Spectrometer were used for the study. A search was made for the prominent lines of the (0, 0) and (1, 1) A²Δ − X²Π for Silicon hydride isotopomers which lie between 23500 cm⁻¹ and 24500 cm⁻¹. The presence of lines from the (0, 0) and (1, 1) A²Δ − X²Π transition of SiH molecule coincided with the sunspot umbral lines suggest that Silicon hydride appears to be a non-negligible component of sunspot umbrae. However, the presence of A²Δ − X²Π (0, 0) and (1, 1) bands of SiD was found to be doubtful because of the lack of number of well identified lines in sunspot umbral spectra. Equivalent widths have been measured for well-resolved lines and, thereby, the rotational temperatures have been estimated for the band systems for which the presence is confirmed.     

Identification of SrF molecular lines in the spectrum of sunspot umbra

A high resolution spectrum of a sunspot umbra is used for identification of rotational lines due to (0, 0) band of the A ²Π–X ²Σ⁺ system and (0, 0), (1, 1), and (2, 2) bands of the B ²Σ⁺–X ²Σ⁺ system of the molecule SrF. The published sunspot umbral spectrum obtained with Fourier Transform Spectrometer and solar telescope of National Solar Observatory/National Optical Astronomy Observatory at Kitt Peak was used for the study. The new identification of more than 200 SrF lines in the umbral spectrum confirms that this molecule accounts for the majority of lines in the spectral range 15050 to 15360 cm⁻¹ and 17240 to 17300 cm⁻¹. Equivalent widths have been measured for well-resolved lines of these bands and the effective rotational temperatures have been estimated for which the presence is confirmed.     

Identification of AlF Molecular Lines in Sunspot Umbral Spectra

High resolution FTS sunspot umbral spectra from NSO/Kitt Peak were used to detect rotational lines due to 11 electronic transitions of the molecule AlF, in the wavelength region 4400 – 9000 Å. The presence of lines due to bands C – A (0,0), (0,1), (0,2) and (1,2), D – A (0,0) and (0,1), F – A (0,0), G – A (0,0), and F – B (0,0) is confirmed. Further, the presence of lines due to C – A (1,0) and (1,1) transitions is treated as doubtful because of heavy blending in the region, by rotational lines of TiO. Among the identified lines, those which are well resolved were selected for measurement of equivalent widths. The measured values for the bands D – A (0,0) and F – A (0,0) were used to estimate the respective effective rotational temperatures to be 1240 ± 120 K and 2390 ± 400 K.     

Correlation and variability of the HeI 4471 and MgII 4481 absorption lines in Be stars: A possible diagnostic tool for nonradial pulsations

In a total of 181 photographic spectrograms, obtained at the Manuel Foster Observatory of the Catholic University in Santiago (Chile), the equivalent widths of the absorption lines HeI 4471 and MgII 4481 have been determined for 10 selected southern Be stars and 4 normal B-type stars. The mean equivalent widths of each star are compared to published mean values from largers samples of B stars. On the average, Be stars coincide with normal B-type stars in their equivalent width. However, a striking difference between rapidly and slowly rotating stars in their line ratios (HeI/MgII) was found, which is probably an artifact due to a systematic misclassification of spectral types of rapidly rotating B stars (v sini>200 km s^–1). Six of the ten Be stars show evidence for variability in HeI and/or MgII with time-scales shorter than a few days and amplitudes up to a factor 2 in equivalent width. Line variability occurs in the entire range of projected rotation velocity (70 km s^–1<v sini<350 km s^–1), but seems to be restricted to spectral types B2-B4. In addition, variations at longer time-scales (years) were observed in two cases. Three of the variable stars (HR 4074, HR 4537, and Ara) present correlated variations in both lines, one ( Cen) anti-correlated variability. We interpret our results in terms of nonradial pulsations and stress the importance to study the HeI/MgII lines and their variability in a larger sample of Be, Bn, and normal B stars, including archival material in order to follow-up line variability for several decades in the past.